INFORMATION ABOUT OUR
SPECIALIST LANGUAGE COLLEGE STATUS

Language College

In September 2002 we were designated a Specialist Language College. This gave us significant enhanced funding to develop and enhance our own language teaching, and also to support the language teaching within the local community. Our work in raising the profile of languages across the school, and across the wider community in Stratford and south Warwickshire has been commended by Ofsted, and we have had our specialist status successfully renewed by the Department of Children, Families and Schools.

The Stratford Language Centre

As part of our funding we were given money for a capital project, which we used to build the Stratford Language Centre. This incorporates state of the art language-learning facilities including:

	an interactive whiteboard and projector
	30 PCs and a server
	satellite television
	a Sanako multimedia language lab
	DVD and video facilities
	video conferencing facilities

Due to the significant impact the SLC has had on teaching and learning, we decided to install a second digital language laboratory in one of the school’s IT rooms using Language College funds to upgrade computers. We feel that to have two language laboratories in the school will continue to enhance the language provision we offer.

Adult Classes

We offer a significant range of adult evening classes. These are lead by experienced tutors and cater for all ages and all previous experience of language learning. In the past we have offered classes in these subject areas, but aim to respond to demand:

	French conversation
	Spanish for beginners
	Lower intermediate Spanish
	Continuation beginners Italian
	Intermediate Italian
	Advanced Italian
	Japanese for tourist industry professionals

If you think you might be interested in any of these courses please contact Sarah Parkinson on 01789 293879 or on parkinson.s@we-learn.com .

Primary Languages

In order to support the delivery of languages by local primary schools, we use our Language College funds to enable one of our teachers to spend a day per week helping local primary schools to teach French at Key Stages 1 and 2. We also invite all our Year 6 students from these primaries to our school in the summer for a French day. These have proved to be highly popular.

Secondary Links

We work closely with all secondary schools in South Warwickshire as a lead school in sharing and innovating good practice. Last year we secured funds to enable all local secondary languages departments to purchase a video camera for an innovative teaching and learning project in languages. We also offer revision courses to their GCSE classes, and a Languages Mean Business day for girls from three local schools. During the course of this day, they have the opportunity to speak with professionals who use languages in their work, and to try out taster sessions for themselves in Italian, Japanese and Chinese.

International Links

We were pleased to gain the British Council Intermediate International Schools Status in recognition of the significant range of international opportunities which exist across the school. Such trips include:

	Year 7 cross-curricular trip to France
	German, Spanish and French exchanges
	World Challenge trips to Namibia and South America
	A Politics, Economics and Business Studies trip to Paris
	Sixth form work experience to France, Germany and Spain
	Trip to Japan

In addition we have many international events happening within school. These include:

	Year 8 intercultural project incorporating all departments in the school
	Email links with Japan, France, Germany and Spain
	European Day of Languages

All of these serve to enhance and enrich the international ethos of the school as a whole.

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